System for transporting frequency hopping signals

• US 6,088,381 A
• Filed: 12/23/1997
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Myers, Thomas C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Maikhanh
• Application Number:
  US08/996,843
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 370/480, 370/482, 370/344, 370/319, 370/320, 370/343, 370/481, 375/132-134, 375/135, 375/136, 375/233, 455/22, 455/118, 455/20
• US Class Current: 375/132
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25752 Optical arrangements for wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 1/04 Frequency-transposition arrangements modulation with carrier or side-band suppression H03C1/52, H03C1/60; single-band suppression H04B1/00, H04B15/00; telegraphic communication H04L27/02, H04L25/49; transference of modulation from one carrier to another, e.g. frequency- changing H03D7/00; demodulation or transference of modulation of modulated electromagnetic waves H03D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 13/00 Code division multiplex systems for frequency hopping H04B1/713
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A system for transporting radio frequency (RF) signals across a RF network comprises a central transport unit and a remote transport unit. The frequencies of at least some of the RF signals to be transported hop in accordance with predetermined hopping sequences. The central transport unit uses the hopping sequences to convert the hopping frequencies into fixed frequencies for efficient transport through the RF network. The remote transport unit uses the hopping sequences to convert the fixed frequencies back to the original hopping frequencies. The transport system is also capable of reverse operation in the direction from the remote transport unit to the central transport unit.

Claims

1. A radio frequency (RF) transport system for transporting through a transport network a plurality of RF signals transmitted from a central station to at least one remote station, the frequency of each of said RF signals hopping in accordance with a predetermined hopping sequence that is also transmitted from said central station to said remote station, the transport system comprising:

a central transport unit including;

means for receiving said frequency hopping signals and said hopping sequences from said central station;

means responsive to said hopping sequences for respectively converting said central station frequency hopping signals into respective central unit fixed frequency signals; and

means for transmitting said central unit fixed frequency signals and said hopping sequences through said transport network; and

a remote transport unit including;

means for receiving said central unit fixed frequency signals and said hopping sequences from said central transport unit;

means responsive to said hopping sequences for respectively converting said central unit fixed frequency signals into respective remote unit frequency hopping signals corresponding to said central station frequency hopping signals; and

means for transmitting said remote unit frequency hopping signals and said hopping sequences from said remote transport unit to said at least one remote station.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said network comprises the Internet.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said network comprises a local area network (LAN).

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said network comprises a wide area network (WAN).

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said network comprises a wired or wireless cable TV network.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said network comprises a video network.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said network comprises a fiberoptic network.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said network comprises a point-to-point microwave network.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein:

said remote transport unit further includes;

means for receiving frequency hopping signals from said at least one remote station;

means responsive to said hopping sequences for respectively converting said remote station frequency hopping signals into respective remote unit fixed frequency signals; and

means for transmitting said remote unit fixed frequency signals to said central transport unit through said transport network; and

said central transport unit further includes;

means for receiving said remote unit fixed frequency signals from said remote transport unit;

means responsive to said hopping sequences for respectively converting said remote unit fixed frequency signals into respective central unit frequency hopping signals corresponding to said remote station frequency hopping signals; and

means for transmitting said central unit frequency hopping signals from said central transport unit to said central station.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said central station comprises a radio base station, said remote station comprises a mobile station, and said hopping sequences are transmitted from said base station to said mobile station over a control channel.

11. A method for transporting a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signals from a central station to a remote station through a transport network, the frequency of each of said RF signals hopping in accordance with a predetermined hopping sequence sent from said central station to said remote station, the method comprising the steps of:

providing said frequency hopping signals and said hopping sequences from said central station to a central transport unit;

converting said central station frequency hopping signals into respective fixed frequency signals in said central transport unit using said respective hopping sequences;

transmitting said central unit fixed frequency signals and said hopping sequences through said transport network to a remote transport unit;

receiving said central unit fixed frequency signals and said hopping sequences at said remote transport unit;

converting in said remote transport unit using said hopping sequences said central unit fixed frequency signals into respective remote unit frequency hopping signals corresponding to said central station frequency hopping signals; and

transmitting said remote unit frequency hopping signals and said hopping sequences from said remote transport unit to said remote station.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said network comprises the Internet.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said network comprises a local area network (LAN).

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said network comprises a wide area network (WAN).

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said network comprises a wired or wireless cable TV network.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said network comprises a video network.

17. The method of claim 11 wherein said network comprises a fiberoptic network.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein said network comprises a point-to-point microwave network.

19. The method of claim 11 further including the steps of:

providing frequency hopping signals from said remote station to said remote transport unit;

converting said remote station frequency hopping signals into respective remote unit fixed frequency signals in said remote transport unit using said hopping sequences;

transmitting said remote unit fixed frequency signals to said central transport unit through said transport network;

receiving said remote unit fixed frequency signals at said central transport unit;

converting in said central unit using said hopping sequences said remote unit fixed frequency signals into respective central unit frequency hopping signals corresponding to said remote station frequency hopping signals; and

transmitting said central unit frequency hopping signals from said central transport unit to said central station.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said central station comprises a radio base station, said remote station comprises a mobile station, and said hopping sequences are transmitted from said base station to said mobile station over a control channel.